NUFC Legends 0-0 AC Milan Glorie - Stars Come Out For Steve Harper's Big Night

The stars came out in force at St. James' Park last night as almost 51,000 fans paid tribute to one of Newcastle United's loyalist servants. Some of the biggest celebrities in the Magpies' history turned out for Steve Harper's testimonial, and faced an AC Milan side packed with legends of their own. Celebrated names such as Alan Shearer, Faustino Asprilla and David Ginola all donned the black and white shirt one more time to mark 20 years of service from the goalkeeper. And the Italians weren't short of household names themselves, with Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi and Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio all featuring on an emotional night on Tyneside. The game itself, which ended goalless, was settled by a penalty shootout that saw the Rossoneri's old boys triumph. But the outcome was of little importance on a evening that saw all proceeds handed to local charities. Harper's legends XI featured a host of names from Kevin Keegan's 'Entertainers' era, and one of them almost broke the deadlock when Les Ferdinand nodded over from Nolberto Solano's cross. And man of the moment Harper was also kept bust during first-half, saving a long distance drive from Maldini before denying Maurizio Ganz seconds later. There was almost a moment to savour six minutes before the break when Asprilla connected spectacularly with another Solano cross, but his overhead kick was blocked. And the Colombian should have opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, but his lob failed to test Sebastiano Rossi in the Milan goal and sailed over the bar. Rossi was tested, however, when Lee Bowyer hit a crisp drive from outside the box that was expertly saved by the former Cesena stopper.

After the break there was almost a rerun of one of Newcastle's most famous nights. Keith Gillespie crossed from the right at the Gallowgate End for Asprilla to head home €“ just as he had against Barcelona in the Champions League in 1997 €“ but a linesman's flag ruled out the re-enactment. Substitute Alan Thompson tested replacement keeper Massimo Taibi before the former Manchester United man produced the save of the match, keeping out Paul Kitson's header with a flying stop to his left. Arguably the biggest cheer of the night came when Joey Barton dumped Di Canio on the floor with a typically robust challenge, but the Black Cats' manager, who was roundly booed all evening, took it all in his stride.

Andy Cole came closest of all to opening the scoring before the end when his snap-shot came back off the inside of the post after good work from Peter Beardsley and Kevin Nolan. But with the game ending goalless, successful penalties from Di Canio and Alessandro Costacurta where enough to hand a 2-1 shootout victory to the Italians after misses from Beardsley, Asprilla and Harper himself.